Vieques, “Isla Nena”

2008 August 28

About the author: Brenda Reyes Tomassini joined EPA in 2002. She is a public affairs specialist in the San Juan, Puerto Rico office and also handles community relations for the Caribbean Environmental Protection Division.

Up in the sky I feel a little relieved. My flight to Vieques just took off on time, which means I will arrive on time to the Second Children’s Health Fair. In less than 12 minutes, and after crossing a stretch of seven miles off the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico I will arrive at my destination. The Caribbean sea underneath me divides this municipality, which is home to around 10,000 residents, from the rest of the big island. Though I am not a native of Vieques, it has become my favorite place in the world ever since I began working as community involvement coordinator in 2002 on the investigation of hazardous waste contamination on areas of the island.

Beginning in the 1940s, Vieques became home to the Atlantic Weapons Training Facility Area, when 25,000 acres in the western and eastern parts of the island were used as naval support and training facilities.After the U.S. Navy left in 2003, portions of the island were included in EPA’s National Priorities List for cleanup under the Superfund program.The eastern part of the island is now the Vieques Fish and Wildlife Refuge and has some of the most beautiful beaches and views in the Caribbean. Two of them opened in 2004: Blue Beach and Red Beach, or as locals call them, “Playa La Chiva” and “Playa Caracas.” Shades of blue, turquoise and light green make up most of the beaches in the site.I have also seen green turtles, stingrays and starfish swimming peacefully and monarch butterflies dancing in the hot dry air.

Due to the nature of the site, EPA established a field office in Vieques, where our Remedial Project Manager is stationed. As part of our outreach efforts I have participated in many activities over the course of the last six years. However it is the first time we participate in the Children’s Health Fair. More than 700 children, residents of Vieques, along with Puerto Rico’s First Lady and the Secretary of Health attended the activity. In our booth coloring books on asthma were given away along with environmental health materials. At the end of the day I am exhausted beyond words. The children seem to be as exhausted as I am but are quickly delighted to see the big spray of the fire truck. They run towards the water and I would love to do the same, but a 12 minute plane ride and 1.5 hour drive await me in order to get home

Sunny beaches, exotic places and an all year long warm climate island in the Caribbean that is what Puerto Rico can be described with. If you are looking for a place to spend you vacations outside the country then you need to look this up in your world map. You can be enthralled with all the sights you’ll see in this tropic country and you will probably enjoy the cheery mood the beaches there can offer.